Brand ratings are always interesting to read and to compare. Brand consultancy Interbrand has now published its annual ranking of the world's most valuable ("best") brands. Interbrand's press release of 18 September 2008 states the following.

"Coca-Cola (No.1) remains the best global brand for the eighth year in a row. Yet, a notable shift in this year’s rankings was made by IBM, which took over the No. 2 position from Microsoft (No. 3). Google also moved into the top 10 brands, at No. 10, after ranking at No. 20 in 2007.



.... not surprisingly, financial services giants Merrill Lynch, Citi and Morgan Stanley are among the companies that have slipped dramatically down the list.

This year's top 10

1. Coca-Cola
2. IBM
3. Microsoft
4. GE
5. Nokia
6. Toyota
7. Intel
8. McDonald’s
9. Disney
10. Google



The only European brand in the top 10 is Nokia (Finland) on No. 5. Further European brands in the top 30 include Germany's automakers Mercedes Benz and BMW follow on No. 11 and 13, France's luxury goods producer LV/Louis Vuitton ranks on No. 16, whereas Sweden's fashion chain H&M is a new entry on No. 22, the UK's HSBC bank on No. 27 and Switzerland's Nescafe on No. 28.